Machine for treating tanned skins



Ju y 0, 1946. Q E. E. WINKLEY 2,404,873

MACHINE FOR TREATING TANNED SKINS Filed May 5, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet lJuly 30, 1946. E. E. WINKLEY MACHINE FOR TREATING TANNED SKINS Filed May5, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 2 July 30, 1946. E. E. WINKLEY MACHINE FORTREATING TANNED SKINS Filed May 5, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July30, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR TREATING TANNED SKINSApplication May 3, 1941, Serial No. 391,725

'20 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a machine for treating tanned skins for thepurpose of removing excess water therefrom. The invention is illustratedwith reference to a suction apparatus operative to withdraw liquidmaterial from successive portions of a skin progressively duringmovement of the latter. It is to be understood that the machineinvention and various important features thereof may have otherapplications and uses.

Heretofore, it has been the common practice to dry freshly tanned hidesand skins in drying lofts, where they are hung up to remain until theyare substantially dry throughout the entire substance thereof.Alternatively, hides and skins are dried in chambers through which aircurrents are passed to take the moisture from the work pieces, While thelatter are either stationary or traveling through the chamber orchambers. In either case, the hide or skin is commonly dried to such anextent that it must subsequently be moistened or wet back before anyother operation can be performed thereon, whether such operation be apurely mechanical one, such as staking, or an operation which involvesthe application of treating liquids.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved machine whichwill remove water or other excess liquid material from freshly tannedskins to a point such that they are left in a suit- 3 able condition forthe application of other treating liquids, such as seasoning liquids,colors or dies in solution, and fatliquors. It is a further object ofthe invention to provide a machine which will leave the skin in a softflexible condition after each of these operations and treat the skin inremoving liquid therefrom in such a manner as to leave it in fullyextended condition.

To these ends, and in accordance with an important characteristic of theinvention, water or other liquid material is withdrawn from a tannedskin by air passing through the thickness dimension thereof, the suctionmeans operating under such control as to leave the desired minimum ofmoisture in the skin, so that the latter remains soft and flexible andreadily receptive to other liquid material, as in coloring, seasoning,or fatliquoring operations.

It is an important feature of the illustrated machine that the suctionmeans employed in removing liquid material from a skin includes meansfor automatically controlling the force of the suction means, to the endthat the suction effect on each unit area of the skin is substantiallythe same irrespective of the area of the 5 portion of the skin beingtreated at any given instant, it being understood that the area of thetreated portion at any given instant may vary somewhat due toirregularity in the contour of the leather being treated.

As shown, a skin is moved by suitable means over a slot in a supportingtable in a construction in which the slot serves as the mouth of asuction means, the latter having associated there with a valve mechanismincluding a flexible diaphragm, so arranged as to control the force ofthe suction per unit area of portions of the hide or skin passing oversaid slot. Since the suction on the skin during passage of the latterover the slot provides substantial resistance to movement of the skinpast the slot, it is clear that the skin is being stretched out to itsfull extent during treatment, thus tending to maintain the full area ofthe treated work piece.

An important feature of the illustrated machine is found in a feeler ordetector means provided to terminate the operation of a work treatingmeans as a preliminary to initiation of treatment of another portion ofthe work piece by the same or a similar work treating means.Conveniently the feeler or detector means may also be utilized toterminate feeding of the work piece in one direction and to initiate theoperation of feeding it in the opposite direction.

Another feature of importance resides in the provision of means formeasuring the portion of the work piece first treated by a work treatingmeans so that such treated portion will escape a repetition of thetreatment, the'said measuring means becoming operative after the passageof the treated portion of the work piece to initiate treatment of theremaining portion of the work piece. It is an advantage of theillustrated construction that different portions of a work piece may betreated by the same or different work treating devices while travelingfirst in one direction and then in the reverse direction, a timing meansbeing provided to insure that all portions of the work piece areadequately treated.

These and other important characteristics and features of the inventionwill now be described in detail in the specification and then pointedout more particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a machine adapted for use incarrying out the novel method and embodying novel features of theinvention,

.a portion of the frame of the machine being broken away to show moreclearly the construction thereof Fig. 2 is an end view of the machineshown in Fig. 1, looking from the left in the latter figure;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the valve operating mechanismshown in the top portion of Fig. 2, the supporting frame member beingshown in phantom form for clarity of illustration; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view, in section, taken through the parts arranged onthe upper shaft of Fig. 3.

In the illustrated machine, which is specially designed to removemoisture from tanned skins, there is provided a suction device 4comprising a power driven fan 6 (Fig. 1) enclosed in a lower chamber 8,the said suction device having upper chambers or conduits 9 ending inlong narrow openings or slots Ill and I2 (Fig, 2) over which the leatheris drawn at a suitable speed while air is being sucked through saidslots with a force suflicient to cause considerable amounts of air topass through a tanned skin, thereby removing moisture therefrom. It isto be understood that the suction device 4 is not drawn to scale butwill be large enough to provide the necessary suction effect.

For feeding the skin and thus drawing it over "one slot or the other,there is provided a pair of feed rolls l4 and I6. As shown, the lowerfeed roll 16 is journaled in bearings in the end frames I! of themachine while the upper feed roll I4 is mounted in bearings formed atthe forward ends of two arms l8 loosely mounted on a rotary shaft 28supported by suitable bearings in the machine frame. As shown, means isprovided to pull the arms [8 yieldingly in a direction to hold the feedroll I4 in contact with the roll 16 with pressure suflicient to insureproper feeding of the skin, the said means comprising bolts 22 pivotedto the machine frame and having each a spring 24 for exerting yieldingpressure in a downward direction upon an arm l8. For driving the lowerfeed roll Hi there are provided a suitable chain 25 and sprocket wheels21, the driving means including a chain 26 passing around a sprocketwheel 28 on a drivenshaft 30 having suitable hearings in the lower partof the machine frame. As shown, the upper feed roll I4 is driven by thesame driving means, including the sprocket chain 26' and the sprocket28, by reason of intermeshing gears 32 and 34 (Fig. 2). Since thedriving means for the rolls outlined above is of a wellknownconstruction and constitutes no part of the invention, further detaileddescription thereof is not considered necessary.

The suction device 4 referred to above is provided with a valve member40 (Fig. 2) movable to close the passageway 9 between the slot I2 andthe fan chamber 8, said valve member being also movable to permit freepassage of air through said passageway. As shown, the valve member issecured to a pintle 43 rotatably mounted at each of its ends inthe endframes ll of the machine, and is held against displacement by a slottedand perforated hollow cylinder 45 mounted at its ends in the machineframe. To operate the valve member 40 there is secured thereto an arm 42normally held by a spring 44 against a stop 46 (mounted on the outsidesurface of an end frame of the machine) in position such that the valvemember 40 closes the passageway. A valve member 48, mounted similarly tomember 40, is provided for controlling the passage of air through thepassageway leading from the slot It], said valve member 48 havingsecured thereto an arm to the free end of 4 c which is secured arod 52yieldingly held by a spring 54 in a position such that the valve member48 closes said passageway from the slot l0. As shown, the upper end ofthe rod 52 carries a pin 56 which is adapted to contact the upper end ofa bracket 58 carried bythe left (Fig. 1) upper arm IS, the arrangementbeing such that the pin and bracket limit the downward movement of therod 52 under the pull of the spring 54. To open the passageway past thevalve member 48, the rod 52 is lifted against the tension of the spring54 by means which will hereinafter be described.

As already stated, the suction device 4 comprises the fan 6 which issecured to the upper end of a shaft arranged to be continuously drivenby any suitable means such as electric motor 62 coupled to the lower endof the shaft 60.

In order to adjust the suction device to variations in the widthdimension of a skin passing over either of the slots l0 and I2, there isconnected to the suction device 4, at a point between said slots and thefan chamber 8, a chamber 18 (Fig. 1) having two pipe connections '12, 14with a conduit 16 extending upwardly from the fan chamber at 8 to theupper chamber or conduits 9. As shown, the pipe 14 has an opening orinterruption at 11 arranged to be controlled by a tubular valve member18 slidably fitted in the pipe 14, Said valve 18 is connected by apiston rod 80 with a flexible diaphragm 82 in the chamber 10. As shown,the piston rod 80 passes completely through the chamber 10 and throughthe flexible diaphragm 82 (to which it is secured) and has its free endsurrounded by a spring 84 arranged to be adjustably tensioned by somemeans 85, the latter furnishing means for regulating the suction means.It will be understood that the diaphragm 82 is impervious to air and isfirmly clamped in position to provide an air-tight wall for the largercompartment 83 of the chamber 10, while the smaller compartment 85beyond the diaphragm 82 is open to theair, by a space of a suitable sizeabout the piston rod 80 where it passes through the wall of the chamber10' adjacent to the spring 84. When the suction device 4 is treating aportion of the skin passing over one of the slots ID or I2 (depending onwhich valve 48 or 48 is in open position) air will be forcibly drawnthrough th passageway leading to the slot in operation and the force ofthis suction will be regulated by the valve at 18. If, for instance.

the width of the leather passing over the slot is such as to cover theslot completely, the suction within the fan chamber 8 and the conduit Hiwill be such as to exert a heavy suction effect in the chamber 10 and onthe flexible diaphragm 82, pulling the latter toward the right in Fig. 1and moving the valve 18 to a position such that air is admitted aroundthe edge of the valve 18 into the pipe 12 and thence intothe conduit 18and fan chamber 8. This of course reduces the suction effect on theleather over the slot ID or l2.

If, on the other hand, the skin does not quite cover the slot 10 or l2the suction effect on the diaphragm 82 will not be so great as in thecase that the variations in the transverse dimensions of the trimmedskins undergoing treatment are not marked.

It will be readily understood that the suction effect through the slotsI and I2 is so considerable as to place substantial tension on theportion of the workpiece between the operating suction device (with itsslot II] or I2) and the work feeding means. This tends to keep the workpiece well spread out. In addition, bars 81 (Fig. 1) over both slots I9and I2 are so arranged as to keep the work piece spread out in lateraldirections when drawn over these bars, as will be evident from aninspection of Fig. 1, the bars 81 (and slots 99 therebetween) extendingin a different angular relationship to the horizontal edges of the slot(II) or I2) from opposite sides of the vertical median line SI. It willbe noticed that portions of the work piece drawn upwardly over each bar81 also pass over an adjacent slot 89 to have moisture sucked therefromby air drawn in by the fan or blower 6 in compartment 8.

As stated above, the drive for the feed rolls I4 and I6 comes from thedriven shaft 31! by way of the sprocket wheel 28 and sprocket chainConveniently, the shaft 30 is driven by the motor 62 by means of a worm90 and a large worm gear 92 (Fig. 2) meshing therewith, the said gear 92being secured to the shaft 39. In the construction shown, the sprocketwheel 28 is loosely mounted on the shaft 39 but is kept from endwisemovement thereon by means of suitable collars (not shown). When thetreadle member94 is in the raised position shown in 2, a driving clutchmember 96 (Fig. 1) is engaged with. a clutch member secured to the leftside of the sprocket wheel 23. If, on the other hand, the treadle member94 be depressed, a driving clutch member 22 will be moved to the left inFig. 1 into clutching engagement with a clutch member secured to theright face (Fig. 1) of the sprocket wheel 22. These movements of thedriving clutch members 96 and 98 are obtained by a link I923 connectedat its lower end to the treadle member 94 and at its upper end to abell-crank lever I92 arranged to operate both clutch levers I94, I56which are interconnected by a link I98. It is to be understood that theshaft 39 is driven continuously in one direction, indicated by the arrowin Fig. 1, and that the driving clutch member 29 is splined to the shaft39 so that when moved to operative position it drives the sprocket wheel23 in the direction of the arrow on the shaft 32. However, the drivingclutch member 96 is loose on the shaft 3! and is driven by suitablegearing indicated in general by the reference character I In to rotatein a direction the reverse of that of the shaft 32. When, for instance,the treadle 94 is in its raised position (Fig. 2) the driving clutchmember 96 is in driving engagement with the adjacent clutch member onthe sprocket wheel 28 to drive the sprocket wheel, the sprocket chain 25and the feed rolls I4 and It in the directions indicated by the arrowsin Fig. 2. When, however, the treadle 94 is depressed, the drivingclutch member 96 is moved to disengaging position while the drivingclutch member 98 is moved into driving relation with respect to thesprocket 28 with the result that the feed rolls I4 and I6 are driven inthe direction the reverse of that indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. Inthe latter case, a skin presented to the feed rolls will be fed to theleft in Fig. 2 with a portion thereof passing over the slot I2 openinginto chamber or conduit 9 leading to the suction device 4. When the skinhas passed by the slot -I'2rafee1er device, including a roller I29, willbe 6. operated to initiate reversal in the direction of feed of the feedrolls I4 and I6 and at the same time to close the slot I2 by the valve49, the slot I0 being opened by proper movement of the valve member48'so that another portion of the skin is treated while it is being fedto the right in Fig. 2.

The feeler or detector mechanism referred to in the foregoing paragraphcomprises the roller I29 mounted for free rotation in the upper ends oftwo arms I22, I23 (Fig. 1) pivotally mounted upon pivot pins I24 carriedby the end frame members of the machine. For moving the arms I22, I23and therefore the roller I20, between operative and inoperativepositions, there is provided a bell-cranklever I26 pivoted at I28 on themachine frame and having a slot I39 for the reception of a pin I32extending laterally from one of a pair of side members I24 of thetreadle 94, the said side members of the treadle being pivoted to themachine frame at I36. Since the upper end of the bell-cranklever I25 ispivotally con nected to the arm I22 by a link member I38, which passesslidably through an eye member I42 rotatably mounted in the arm I22, itis clear that depression of the treadle 94 will result in swingingboththe bell crank I 25 and the arms I22, I22 to the left in Fig. 2 tobring the feeler member or roller I29 into contact with a guard member42 along a line closely adjacent the upper margin of the slot I2. Byproviding a spring I44 on the link member I38, the roller I20 is heldyieldingly in its operative position where it contacts the skin passingover the guard member I42 and hence over the slot I2. The arm I22 mayconveniently be used to control the valve member 42 of the suctiondevice. For this purpose the arm i22 carries a finger I45 adjustablysecured thereby by bolts receivable in a slot in the said finger, theposition of the finger I46 being such that, upon movement of the arm I22to press the roller I20 against a work piece, the said finger I45 contacts the arm 42 pressing it back against the tension of the spring 44and thus rotating the valve member 40 from closed to open position,whereby the work piece is subjected to the effect of suction of airthrough the suction device by way of the slot I2. The describeddepression of the treadle 94 also resulted in driving the feed rolls I4and I6 in a direction the reverse of that indi cated by the arrows inFig. 2, the timing being preferably such that the feed rolls arereversed in their direction of rotation and the work piece fed farenough for the rolls to get a substantial grip on the work piece beforethe finger I46 operates the valve 40. It follows that, during feeding ofthe work piece from right to left in Fig. 2, portions of said work piecepassing over slot I2 are treated by having air sucked therethrough bythe suction device 4 which is continuously in operation under the driveof the electric motor 62.

In a preferred construction, the treadle 94 is latched in its depressedposition by means of a latch member I48 pivoted at I50 on an end frameII of the machine and having connected thereto a spring I52 whichconstantly urges t -e latch member I48 to the right in Fig. 2, the otherend of the spring I52 being connected to the adjacent pin I24 as shownor to the frame II. Hence, upon depression of the treadle 94, the lowerend of the latch member I 48 is moved to the right by the spring I52until it comes in contact with a stop I54 on a part of the treadle.Means is provided for tripping the latch I48 and thereby releasing thetreadle to the action of a spring said means comprising in theillustrated construction an adjustable contact member I58 carried by thearm I22. This member I58 strikes against a boss I 60 near the upper endof the latch member I48, tripping the latch, when the feeler roll I20drops off the end of the-work piece. When the treadle 94 is liftedfollowing displacement of the latch I48, the arms I22, I23 move to openposition, the spring 44 closes valve 40, and the clutch members areshifted to change the'direction of rotation of the feed rolls I4 and I6,as heretofore described. Hence, these rolls then turn in the directionof the arrows in Fig. 2 to feed the work piece toward the operator atthe front of the machine. At the proper time in this feeding operation,the suction device 4 becomes operative through the slot I by properadjustment of the valve member 48 to treat that portion of the workpiece which was not subjected to treatment while the work piece wasbeing moved over the slot I2.

Operation of the valve 48, referred to in the foregoing paragraph, isaccomplished automatically following reverse rotation of the feed rollsI4 and I6. In the illustrated construction, the automatic meanscomprises the rod 52 pivotally connected at its lower end to the valveoperating arm 50, together with means for elevating this rod. 52 againstthe tension of the spring 54 and subsequently tripping the elevatingmeans to permit return of the valve 48 to closed position. The saidelevating means (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) comprises a pawl member I pivoted atI1I on an arm I12 secured to a shaft I14 which passes through a hollowshaft I15 to which is secured a gear I16 arranged to be constantly inmesh with a pinion I18 secured to a shaft I80 which also carries theupper feed roll I4. While the feed rolls I4 and I6 are rotating in adirection the reverse of that indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2 (to feedthe work piece in an upward direction over the slot I2), the pivotedpawl I10 moves in a counterclockwise direction and wipes by a block I82rigidly secured to the rod 52 by the pin 56. This action of the pawl isrendered possibleby reason of the fact that a spring I83 yieldinglyholds the pawl against a shoulder I13 (Figs. 3 and 4) on the arm I12.Upon reversing the direction of rotation of the feed rolls I4 and I6,and hence of the gear I16 and the arm I12, the

V pawl I10, during its rotation in clockwise direction (Fig. 2) liftsthe block I62 and also the attached rod 52. Hence the valve member 48 ismoved from closed to open position. When the block .I82 is lifted to itsuppermost position by the pawl I10, a latch member I84 is moved byaspring I86 to engage a shoulder I85 (Fig. 3) thereon under the blockI82. As shown, the latch member I84 remains in latching position untilthe pawl I10 strikes against a projecting finger I88 (Figs. 1 and 2) onsaid latch member. When that happens, the latch member I84 is rocked tothe right against the tension of the spring I86, a stop pin I90 (Figs. 1and 2) being provided to limit such movement of the latch member I84. Inorder that the pawl I10 and its carrying arm I12 may be stopped by thelatch member I84 substantially in the position shown in Fig. 2, the saidarm I12 is driven yieldingly through a friction disk I92 (Fig. 1) keyedto the shaft I14 (Figs. 1

and 4), said disk being pressed yieldingly by a spring I94, against therear face of the gear I16. Whenthe latch I84 is moved to its inoperativeposition (shown in Fig. 2) the rod. 52 is at once 8 moved downwardly byits spring 54 whereby the valve member 48 is moved to its closedposition, thus .terminating the suction air treatment of the work piece.

It is an important feature of this construction that the operation ofboth valves 40 and 48 is controlled to secure treatment of differentportions of the work piece in such manner that a Work piece introducedinto the machine is completely treated when it is delivered back to theoperator standing at the right in Fig. 2. In the illustratedconstruction, the gear ratio of gears I16, I18 and their sizerelationship to the rolls I4 and I6 are such that the arm I12 and pawlI10 never make a complete revolution in treating work pieces of the sizefor which the machine is designed. Hence, during rotation of the feedrolls I4 and I6 in a direction the reverse of that indicated by thearrows in Fig. 2, the arm I12 and the pawl I10 rotate in acounterclockwise direction and end up in a position short of the undersurface of the finger I88 on the latch I84. When the feed rolls I4 andI6 are reversed through the action of the feeler roll I20 to feed thework piece toward the front of the machine, the work is fed throughoutthe greater part of its length with both valve members 40 and 48 inclosed position, since the greater part of the work piece passingbetween the feed rolls I4 and I6 had been treated while'passing over theslot I2. As the untreated portions of the work piece approach the slotI0, while moving in an upward direction over a guard or supportingmember 200, the pawl I10 lifts the block I82 and the rod 52 connectedthereto, where-by the valve member 48 is moved to open position. Theresult is that the work piece portions then and thereafter pass ing overthe slot I0 are treated, the valve member 48 remaining in open positionuntil the latch I84 is tripped in the manner described. It will be seen,therefore, that the distance in the clockwise direction between theblock I82 and the finger I88 on the latch member I84 corresponds,approximately, to the distance between the upper edge of .the slot I2and the bite of the feed rolls I4 and IE, it being understood that theportion of the skin initially extending between the upper edge of theslot I2 and the bite of the feed rolls I4 and I6 constitutes the part ofthe work piece which is not treated by being drawn over the slot I2.Hence this is the part which must be treated by being drawn over theslot I0, upon reversal of the direction of feed of the work piece.However, the portion to be treated by being passed over the slot I0 mustbe, as a practical matter, somewhat greater than that indicated in orderto be sure to overlap the treated portion somewhat and 'by reason of thenecessity of engaging a sufficient part of the forward end of the workpiece to insure that such work piece will be fed properly (by the feedrolls in spite of the suction effect on those parts which are passingover the slot I2.

It is important to note that the pawl I10 is in effect an indicatormember since the extent of its travel corresponds exactly to the longestdimension of the work piece (in the direction of feed of such workpiece), minus the fixed distance between the upper edge aof the slot I2and the line of contact of the rolls I4 and I6. More particularly, thetravel of the pawl varies with the length of that part of the work piecewhich i treated by passing over the slot I2, since'that part of the workpiece initially above the upper margin of the slot I2 duringintroduction of the work piece is always the same, at least substan *9tially so. Hence, the pawl I10 (and its driving means), in its clockwisemovement, measures out the variable treated part of the work piecebefore it lifts the block I82 and thus initiates treatment of theremaining portions of the work piece as they pass over the slot Ii].From another viewpoint, the pawl III] i a timing device for the Worktreating means (comprising slot it) since, although it travels avariable distance clockwise with each piece of work, it initiates theoperation of said work treating means and thus determine the time ofoperation of the latter.

In operating the machine, the operator places a tanned skin (which is tobe dried) inside of the feeler roll I20 with a portion thereof restingon the combined support and guard I 42. One end of the skin is madeready for introduction between the feed rolls l4 and It as soon as thetreadle 94 is depressed, since the latter operation at once changes thedirection of rotation of the rolls so that the work piece will begripped and fed into the machine. By the time the feed rolls have fedenough of the forward end of the work piece to secure a good gripthereon, the feeler roll iZO has reached operative position as has alsothe finger M5, the latter operating to move the valve 40 to openposition so that the work piece is treated while being drawn over theslot I2 of the suction device 4. As soon as the feeler roll I20 dropsoff the end of the work piece, the treadle 94 is released to the actionof the spring I56 so that it moves upwardly to effect reverse movementof the feed rolls M and It to feed the work piece out of the machine andtoward the operator. During the feeding out of the work piece, theportion untreated through failure to pass over the slot i2 is nowtreated by being passed over the slot ID.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a workpiece first in one direction and then in the reverse direction, drivingmechanism for said work feeding means, work treating means spaced withrespect to each other for treating different full width portions of thework piece, a detector device arranged to contact the work piece to becontrolled thereby, said detector device having means associatedtherewith and being operative to initiate operation of one of the worktreating means to treat an entire width portion of the work piece, saiddetector device also having connections to initiate feeding of the workpiece in said reverse direction, a timing device, and means controlledby saidtiming device to initiate operation of the other work treatingmeans after reversal of the direction of feed of the work piece tocomplete treatment of the latter.

2. In a machine of the character described, adjacent feed rolls, meansfor rotating the feed rolls to feed a work piece between them first inone direction and then in the other, multiple work treating meansoperative upon opposite sides of the line of engagement of the feedrolls with the work piece, a detector device controlled by the workpiece to terminate rotation of the feed rolls for feeding in onedirection and to initiate feeding in the opposite direction, one of saidwork treating means being operable to treat the work piece while it ismoving in the first direction, and timing means for initiating operationof the other work treating means on the remaining untreated portion ofthe work piece after 10 reversal of the direction of feed of the workpiece by said feed rolls.

3. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a workpiece first in one direction and then in the other, means spaced fromeach other for treating different portions of the work piece, eachportion extending entirely across the work piece, a detector devicearranged to be controlled by the work piece, means associated with thedetector device arranged to initiate operation of one of the worktreating means while the work piece is fed in one direction, saiddetector device also having means controlled by the detector device andbeing operative to terminate feeding of the work piece in said onedirection and to initiate feeding thereof in the opposite direction, atiming mechanism driven by the work feeding means, and means controlledby the timing mechanism to initiate operation of the other work treatingmeans to further treat the work piece after the feeding in the oppositedirection has been initiated.

4. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a workpiece first in one direc tion and then in the reverse direction, drivingmechanism for said work feeding means, work treating devices spaced fromeach other in the direction of feed of the work piece for treatingdifierent portions of the work piece, means arranged to be driven bysaid driving mechanism for measuring the portion of the work piece firsttreated so that the said treated portion may be completely fed in thereverse direction before the second work treating device begins itsoperation to treat the remaining portion of the work piece, and meansassociated with the measuringmeans to initiate the operation of thesecond Work treating device.

5. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a workpiece, driving mechanism for said Work feeding means, work treatingdevices spaced from each other in the direction of feed of th work piecefor treating diiferent portions of the work piece, a detector devicearrangedto contact the work piece to be controlled thereby, saiddetector device having means associated therewith and being operative toinitiate operation of one of the work treating device s, means arrangedto be driven by the said driving mechanism for measuring the portion ofthe work piece first treated so that the said treated portion may becompletely fed past the second work treating device before the latterbegins its operation to treat the remaining part of the work piece, andmeans for initiating the latter operation through the operation of themeasuring means.

6. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a workpiece first in one direction and then in the reverse direction, drivingmechanism for said work feeding means, Work treating devices spaced fromeach other in the direction of feed of the work piece for treatingdifferent portions of the work piece, a detector device arranged tocontact the work piece to be controlled thereby, said detector devicehaving means associated therewith and being operative to initiateoperation of one of the work treating devices and also termination ofsuch operation, means arranged to be driven by the said drivingmechanism for measuring the portion of the work piecefirst treated sothat the said treated portion may be completely fed in the reversedirection before the second work treating device begins its operation totreat the remaining part 11 of the work, and means under controlof themeasuring means for initiating the latter operation.

7. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a workpiece first in one direction and then in the reverse direction, drivingmechanism for said Work feeding means, work treating devices spaced fromeach other in the direction of feed of the work piece for treatindifferent portions of the work piece, a-detector device arranged to becontrolled by the work piece, said detector device having a memberassociated therewith and operative to initiate operation of one of thework treating devices and having connections to terminat feeding of thework piece first treated so that the said treated :1

portion may be fed in the reverse direction before the second worktreating device begins its opera- -tion to treat the remaining part ofthe work, and

means operated by said measuring means for. initiating operation of thesecond work treating device.

8. In a machine of the character described, adjacent feed rolls forfeeding a work piece between them, first in one direction and then inthe other, driving mechanism for said feed rolls,

work treating devices upon opposite sides-of the line of engagement ofthe feed rolls with the work piece for treating difierent portions ofthe work piece, a detector device arranged to be controlled by the workpiece, said detector device ,1

work treating device, said work measuring means being also operative toremeasure the same trea ed portion of the work piece during reversemovement of the latter thereby to avoid repeti tion of treatment of suchportion of the work piece, and connections between the measuring meansand the second work treating device to initiate operation of the latterat the proper time whereby the second work treating device completestreatment of the work piece.

9. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a workpiece first in one direction and then in the reverse direction, drivingmechanism for said work feeding means, suction devices spaced from eachother in the direction of feed of the work piece, each suction deviceincluding a valve for rendering said suction device operative orinoperative, a detector device arranged to be controlled by the workpiece, said detector device having a member associated therewith andoperative to open a valve to initiate operation of one of the suctiondevices, a work measuring means arranged to be driven by the work feedinmeans to measure the length of that portion of the work piece treated bysaid one of the suction devices, said measuring means being operative toremeasure the same treated portion of the work piece upon reversemovement of the latter so that only the untreated portion of the workpiece will be subjected to treatment by the second suction device, andconnections between said measuring means and the valve of the secondsuction device to initiate operation of the latter at the proper time tocomplete treatment of the work piece.

10. In ,an apparatus for treating skins, a support for a skin, saidsupport having a slot of fixed width dimension extending transverselyacross the width of the support, power means for feeding said skin oversaid slot, suction means associated with the slot to draw moisture orother watery material through successive portions of the skin as thelatter is passed over the slot, and a valve mechanism controlled by theair under suction in the suction device to regulate the force of thesuction through said slot.

11. In an apparatus for treating skins, a support for a skin, saidsupport having a slot of fixed width dimension extending transverselyacross the width of the support, power means for feeding said skin oversaid slot, a suction device comprising a suction conduit opening intosaid slot,

the width of the support, power means for feeding said skin over saidslot, a conduit leading from said slot, a pipe opening into said suctionconduit below said slot, a second pipe opening into the suction conduit,and a valve mechanism comprising a piston slidable in said second pipewhereby said piston is controlled by the force of the suction in saidsuction conduit, said piston having openings therein which may beexposed to the outside atmosphere upon movement of the piston in onedirection and closed upon movement of the piston in a reverse direction,whereby air may enter the suction conduit through said openings and thefirst-mentioned pipe to regulate the force of suction through said slot.

13. In an apparatus for treating skins, a support for a skin, saidsupport having a slot extending transversely across the width of thesupport, a conduit leading away from said slot, a

pipe opening into said suction conduit below said slot, a second pipeopening into the suction conduit, a piston movable in said second pipe,a chamber connected to the second pipe, a flexible diaphragm in thechamber, a piston rod connected to the diaphragm and to said piston,

spring means associated with the piston rod and adjustable as to tensiontovvary the resistance offered by the piston to the suction effect inthe suction conduit and in said second pipe, said piston having aportion exposed to the atmosphere and having openings therein arrangedto means for feeding a work piece in one direction for a substantialdistance along the length of said work piece, work treating meansarranged to treat an area of the Work piece defined bythe Width of saidworkpiece and the said distance 13 while the work piece is moving insaid one direction, a detector device operated by th work piece while somoving, and means controlled by the detector device which is operativeto reverse the feeding and to initiate treatment of the remaininguntreated length of the work piece by the work treating means.

15. In a machin of the character described,

adjacent rolls for feeding a work piece pressed between them, worktreating means at one side of the rolls arranged to treat the work pieceentering at that side of the rolls, a detector device operated by thework piece, means controlled by the detector device to reverse thefeeding of the work piece and terminate operation of the said treatingmeans after a substantial portion thereof has been treated, and means onthe other side of the rolls for initiating treatment of the remainingportion of the work piece upon such reversal.

16. In a machine of the character described, adjacent feed rolls forfeeding in either direction a work piece pressed between them, means fortreating a substantial length of said Work piece while being fed in onedirection, a detecwidth of a work piece, means for feeding the length ofthe work piece by each of said treating means first in one direction andthen in the other for said full width treatment, means for controllingthe work treating means and a detector device actuated by the work piecewhen in proper position relative to the feeding means forv operatingsaid controlling means and rendering each treating means effective on aseparate length section of said work piece.

18. A machine of the character described, comwhile the work piece ismoving in the one direction to treat a portion of the work piece, saiddetector device having other means associated therewith and beingoperative to reverse the direction of feed and to open the other valveto further treat the work piece. i

19. A machine of the character described, comprising means operative tofeed a workpiece first in one direction and then in the oppositedirection, suction means having an air intake'on each side of thefeeding means, said intakes being arranged to engage the work piece, adetector device operated by contact with the work piece, means undercontrol of the detector device to reverse the direction of feed and toclose one of said air intakes after a substantial portion of the workpiece has been fed in the one direction, and timing means under thecontrol of the detector device to operate the means for controlling theother of said air intakes whereby first one portion of the work piece issubjected to suction from one intake and then another portion issubjected to suction from the other intake.

20. In a machine of the character described, multiple work treatingmeans spaced apart, each treating means being arranged for spreading outthe full width of a work piece by air suction, means for feeding theWork piece by each of said treating means first in one direction andthen in the opposite direction, means for controlling the work treatingmeans, and a detector device arranged to be actuated by the work piecewhen in proper position relative to the feeding means for operating saidcontrolling means and for rendering each treating means eflective on aseparate length section of said work piece.

ERASTUS E. WINKLEY.

